Injuries and suspensions are Eddie Howe’s biggest concern as his in-form team heads down to the London Stadium to face West Ham Utd on Sunday afternoon.
 
With Anthony Gordon missing out after picking up his fifth red card in seven games Howe would normally have called upon summer signing Harvey Barnes to fill the slot vacated by Gordon but with Barnes out with a foot injury Howe could be forced to make a tactical adjustment to his line-up, particularly if Joelinton hasn’t overcome his own injury problems.
 
It has been a stop and start season for the Brazilian and having lasted only four minutes after coming on as a substitute against Burnley, he was forced to sit out Wednesday’s encounter against PSG. According to Eddie Howe, Joelinton is in contention for selection but whether he decides to air on the side of caution and give him more time to recover will become apparent when the team sheet is handed in.
 
Callum Wilson could also be in line for a return to action. Wilson has missed the last three games through injury and while Howe will not consider risking the England International unless he is 100% fit, the player himself will be itching to face West Ham, a club against whom he has previously scored 12 goals in 13 Premier League appearances.
 
Sven Botman will not be risked as he continues his recovery from a slight knee problem and with Jamaal Lascelles slotting in so well in Botman's absence Howe will not be too concerned about the Dutchman’s absence.
 
Reflecting on Wednesday night’s victory Howe was asked at his press conference whether the win over PSG had altered expectations at the club had this to say:
"My expectations are 'can we win our next game?' I know it's a bit dull but I'm not looking three or four weeks ahead. The PSG win doesn't alter my expectations. Games are going to come thick and fast so we can only look at the one in front of us.
"The better you get, the harder, then it becomes to get even better. We're looking to push those small margins."
And on talk of a new contract for Sean Longstaff Howe said: "Sean has been vital for us, so I'm sure things will pan out well for him."
 
West Ham meanwhile come into the game fresh from their 2-1 win at Freiburg that set them on the path to winning their Europa League group.
Moyes has injury doubts over Michail Antonio who missed the win at Freiburg along with Aaron Cresswell and Ben Johnson.
 
Moyes also has a decision to make on whether to stick with the impressive Mohammed Kudus or bring back Said Benrahma. 

There are not enough superlatives top describe the feeling of euphoria that hovered over Tyneside in the hours and now days that have passed since PSG departed head down following their humbling by Eddie Howe’s Geordie Galactico’s.
 
Few could have imagined at 7.55pm as the Champions league anthem blasted out around an effervescent that the outcome of what they were about to witness would be so comprehensive a victory that even the world’s best player would barely gain a mention.
 
Older fans have lived out on passing down to their children and grandchildren the “I was there” account of Tino Asprilla and his Barcelona demolition of 26 years ago; omitting of course to mention that Barcelona came so close to sharing the spoils that night. 
 
But on Wednesday night the younger generation were handed their own “I was there” moment. One which they themselves can call their own for years to come. And in Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff they had two extra gold nuggets; two Geordie goal scorers to get one over on with their elders.
 
30 minutes before kick off the streets around the stadium were eerily empty of footfall but inside St James’ Park the place was bouncing with both teams warming up under a cacophony of noise being generated by both sets of supporters and as the referee blew his whistle to start the game the decibel level notched up even higher. In spinal tap terms it went up to eleven!
 
And there it stayed, for the next ninety minutes and more. The noise level barely dropped and nor did the pace of the game as the players of both teams went about their job.
 
By now we all know that Almiron put the magpies ahead on 17 minutes. converting the rebound after Donnarumma in the PSG goal could only parry Isak’s shot. 
 
On 35 minutes, or was it 36 or 37, a long-awaited VAR conference held somewhere in the ether of UEFA land was finally concluded and Dan Burn’s header was confirmed as a goal after long debate that undoubtedly covered such topics as handball, offside and quite possibly the effects of Brexit on the prevailing price of fish; so long did it take for the goal to be given.
 
The frantic pace of the first half was matched in the second and within 5 minutes of the restart it was 3:0.
Sean Longstaff, having won the ball in midfield to start the move found himself breaking onto the box and meeting in his stride a slide rule pass from Trippier. He fired in a shot that cut across the PSG keeper, who inadvertently diverted the ball into the net off what appeared to be the underside of his arm having readjusted after anticipating wrongly that Longstaff would aim for the near post.
 
PSG pulled one back five minutes later through a glancing header from Lucas Hernandez but that was as much as the visitors had to offer as Newcastle defended admirably and without panic as and thought of a PSG foothold slipped away. And when Fabien Schar fired in a fourth in time added on, the party that started hours earlier kicked on.
 
The Parisian drummer packed up and headed for the exit leaving only the massed choir of rejoicing Geordies to sing their hearts out without the accompaniment while waving their flags and hailing their conquering heroes.
 
What a night!

 It was mixed news from Eddie Howe on the injury front at his press conference on Tuesday afternoon ahead of his team’s champions league clash with PSG tomorrow night.
 
Asked about Callum Wilson Howe said “we think he won't make tomorrow but it'll be close. As it stands, he won't make it’ 
On Joelinton it’s a similar story and Sven Botman is definitely out. However, the news on Tonali was more positive with Howe stating that the Italian International is “fine”.
 
With Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock out with long term injuries and Emil Krafth not named in Howe’s champions league squad as he continues his recuperation Howe must be relieved that the rest of his squad came through Saturday’s game unscathed.
 
On the game itself Howe was quick to point out the role that the crowd will play tomorrow night. “They will bring their noise, enthusiasm, and love for the game. We need to use that powerfully in our performance. You can use too much emotion in home games, but I think we have got the balance right”.
 
Asked about Mbappe Howe said “It's very difficult to combat him. Our defensive record has been strong, our team performance has been strong. It's never down to one player. I don't believe in man-marking. We need to do well in our units, nullify the space and hopefully keep the best player in the world quiet”.
 
Kieran Trippier also faced the press and naturally Kylian Mbappe was the name that the press sought his opinion on. And like a true professional her didn’t disappoint. “This is football. This is the level you want to play at. You want to be against the best players and the best teams.
Paris have got unbelievable players. Mbappe is one of the best in the world, but they've got quality all over the pitch but on our day, we can hurt anyone”.
I've played against him on his debut for Monaco when I was at Spurs. I played against him for England on my debut quite a few years ago.
He's a fantastic player. You want to play against the best in the world. It will be a great occasion for the club and a game we think we can win”.
 
Asked if he considered Mbappe to be the best player in the world Trippier said” He's certainly one of the best in the world. He's been incredible but every single game we always prepare how we can win the game and hurt the opposition. Tomorrow is no different. You always have to respect the opposition, but you have to find a way to win”.
 
Trippier will be directly facing up to the French superstar as Mbappe  is expected to turnout in his favoured left-wing berth and when asked about the prospect Trippier said “It's a challenge I'm ready for. I've played against plenty of good wingers and tomorrow is no different. Champions League is where I want to play”.
 
Asked about his son’s love for Mbappe, Trippier had those present laughing as he informed those assembled “I was having banter with him last night. He wants to walk out with him tomorrow night and not me! I'm not happy! I've told him if he gets to walk out with him, don't look at me in the tunnel!”
 

Champions League football returns to Newcastle on Wednesday evening following a 20-year hiatus as head coach Luis Enrique brings his PSG to St James’ Park.
Enrique himself lined up alongside such esteemed players as Xavi, Sonny Anderson, Luis Figo, Rivaldo De La Pena, and Nadal against Newcastle Utd back in 1997 and scored in the 73rd minute to bring the deficit back to 3:1 in what was the magpies introduction to Champions league football; but his goal was certainly overshadowed by that Tino Asprilla hattrick as Newcastle ran out 3:2 winners.
 
Enrique arrives with a squad brimming with quality; names that rattle off the tongue just like those of the Barcelona squad 26 years ago. Names like Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi, Manuel Ugarte, Marquinhos, Gonçalo Ramos, Ousmane Dembélé, Milan Skriniar, Lucas Hernandez and of course Kylian Mbappe.
Quality abounds throughout in this PSG squad, but their Achilles heel is often the pressure placed upon them from above to succeed in this competition. 
 
It is no secret that the club owners Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) on behalf of Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, have made it their desire to win the biggest prize in club football but in 12 years that desire has struggled to bear fruit, despite acquiring an abundance of football talent along the way.
 
Neymar, Ibrahimovic, Cavani, Motta, Verratti, Rabiot, Draxler, Thiago Silva and Lionel Messi were all signed with the sole intention of delivering the riches QSI desired, but all failed on the big stage and the elusive prize still evades the envious Qatari owners.
 
And that pressure can pay a handsome dividend for a Newcastle team that is starting to show the sort of form that brought them to this point. A point away from home in their previous Champions League outing in the San Siro showed that they have the doggedness to hang in and thwart some of the best that Europe has to offer and with a run of five games without defeat and no goals conceded they and the St James’ faithful are relishing what the night has in store.
 
Eddie Howe meanwhile will be focussing on his line-up, with Joelinton, Joe Willock and Sven Botman ruled out and Sandro Tonali reportedly a doubt. Callum Wilson was seen at the training ground on Tuesday morning but there was no word coming out on his fitness.
 
The officials for this tie all come from Romania. The Referee is István Kovács. Assistant referees are Vasile Florin Marinescu and Ovidiu Artene, while the Fourth official is Marcel Birsan.
 
VAR is used in the Champions league and the Video Referee is Marco Fritz from Germany. His Assistant is Rob Dieperink from The Netherlands.

Newcastle Utd made it 5 games unbeaten alongside five clean sheets as they eased past Burnley on Saturday afternoon. 
Eddie Howe made two enforced changes from Wednesdays cup win against Manchester City when Callum Wilson and Sven Botman were ruled out through injury; being replaced by Alexander Isak and Jamaal Lascelles.
 
But it was Burnley who got off to the brighter start with Luca Koleosho going close with a fine run and shot that slipped across the face of Pope’s goal.
And it was Koleosho again on for minutes as he dispossessed a nervous looking Dan Burn before squaring the ball to Zeki Amdoun whose effort was blocked by Nick Pope.
 
This new found “slow out of the blocks” Newcastle was starting to frustrate sections of the crowd as they barely got out of second gear as Burnley’s possess and passing game was making the visitors look the most likely to score but all that changed on 14 minutes when Kieran Trippier chased down and dispossessed Aaron Ramsey before playing the ball off to Miguel Almiron. The Paraguayan moved forward, took aim, and fired an unstoppable shot past Trafford and nestled into his far corner.
 
And from that moment there was no looking back as Newcastle took hold as Burnley flattered without troubling Pope’s goal. Elliott Anderson had two good efforts to put Utd further ahead, but he was thwarted by Trafford; as were Trippier and Longstaff.
 
It looked like the toon army were going to have to settle for a tense final twenty minutes until that is, the ever resourceful and energetic Anthony Gordon was tripped in the box and Isak dispatched the resulting penalty.
 
Burnley went close late on when Pope was forced to tip an effort from Al-Dakhil over his own crossbar. 
 
Joelinton replaced Anderson on 64 minutes only to depart back down the tunnel on 68 holding his hamstring and looks extremely doubtful for the visit on PSG on Wednesday night.
 
Speaking after the game Eddie Howe said: "It was a tough game - Burnley are a really interesting team. Vincent (Kompany) has done a great job. They play a very dangerous style and if you aren’t perfect with your press, they can hurt you. But we deserved to win.
 
"Maybe a shaky start in the first ten minutes when they gave us problems, but we recovered really well, and from maybe the tenth minute onwards, we looked comfortable - but I would have liked us to be a bit more clinical."
 
"We didn't want to change too much - though we still moved (Fabian) Schar. Height is a big thing for us from set plays at both ends of the pitch and Jamaal's (Lascelles) leadership is key as well. I felt he deserved it after his great performance on Wednesday."
 
On Botman he confirmed that he is suffering with a knee problem that's serious enough to keep him out until the international break. “We hope that after that he'll be close to being fit."
On Wilson, Howe said: "Callum has a very minor hamstring problem.... whether we see him about before the international break, I don't know. I hope we do, but there's no guarantee."
 
And on Joelinton Howe confirmed what everyone thought: "It looks like a hamstring problem. It doesn't look serious but was enough for Joe, who never complains of anything, to go down and come off."
 
Vincent Company meanwhile was very philosophical about his team’s performance “At the moment it’s not happening but it’s important to retain the belief. 
 
"Newcastle are a top side but we stayed in the game for long periods, and we had our moments. That’s important. No one said it would be easy. It’s supposed to be tough; it's not supposed to be easy, going to St James' Park.
 
"But we started well, stayed in the game and then probably made a mistake that put the game a bit away from us. I can't fault the team for the performance.
 
"I think there are plenty of managers who have come here, especially with promoted teams, who have said to win games here, to get a result, you need to have a little bit of luck on your side and to take your key moments, and I feel we were exactly the opposite there.
 
"We knew that (pressing) was their strength, so it’s a moment to create chances. In the first half, the first 10 to 15 minutes, it’s in those moments we created chances and even in the second half.
"But the game happened with the bits in between, the mistake, the penalty and Newcastle are a top side, they showed it’s a really tough place to come to. From our perspective, we were in the game and that’s important."